I am using the nautical term “come about” because Alderman Dowd, the 2023 Secret Keeper of the Year, is a Navy veteran and has repeatedly reminded the voters that he’s a submarine expert.
The mismanagement of millions of dollars of ESSER funds was kept under wraps during his campaign until after he was reelected to a 7th term, securing another two years of his committee chairmanship last November, but that was the past. Let’s talk about the present and the future.
At the end of Tuesday night’s meeting during public comment, Ward 2’s Mr. Gouthro spoke about transparency at 1:31:20 until he was cut off 3 minutes later and followed by Laurie Ortolano at 1:34:35. Pay close attention to Laurie’s comments because they involve the future. She politely requested transparency regarding the Mohawk Tannery, which The Swamp has been hoping stays low on the radar. In spite of all current, recent, and not-so-recent baggage(assessor’s office, arts center, and litigation), the “L-Team”(Laurie Ortolano and Laura Colquhoun) has been hard at work monitoring its developments as they unfold.
Also currently a work in progress, though in Concord, is the RTK Tax, aka HB 1002, which has a House Judiciary Committee executive session next Wednesday, 3/6, at 10 am. Consider it serendipity because her comments illustrate why the materialization HB 1002 would be a horrible thing. Think about the fishing expedition on top of another fishing expedition that could exist at the truth seeker’s expense! It’s been said more times than I have counted that RTK inquiries are NOT weaponized malice and that the good faith requestor is willing to work with the stewards of the public information being requested. Laurie Ortolano has made clear that she plans to be monitoring the Mohawk Tannery project and has given ample notice, so it should be considered a fair warning.
In Nashua, it would be in everyone’s best interest that her request from the podium is properly honored, and it would be in the best interest of everyone(in Nashua or elsewhere in NH) that HB 1002 dies in the House.
